Madison Police Cracking Down On Drunk Driving Aggressively

As summer is going to end soon, more and more individuals are hosting and attending parties, but local police forces are making the motorists alert. They want to send a strict message to everyone who chooses to consume drugs and get behind the wheel. For that, they have started a campaign that will end on 5th of September.

According to Lt. Jeff Hoch with the Maple Shade Police Department, the campaign with the name “Drive Sober or Get Pulled ” is in full effect in Maple Shade & Evesham and will end on the Labor Day holiday weekend. The campaign is for 20 days and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collaborated to reduce the number of impaired driving incidents.

Hoch told that the campaign is part of a nationwide struggle to cope with drunk driving over the summer travel season. He added, “Summer time and the end-of-year holidays are when most Americans gather to enjoy their free time with friends and family. They are also some of the most deadly times on American roads due to impaired driving. That’s why during the summer and the end of the year, a nationwide campaign comprised of thousands of traffic safety partners, join together to protect citizens from this deadly crime.”

Lt. Joseph Friel with the Evesham Police Department told that the number of cops looking for drunk drivers has increased as well as public education tools such as posters, banners and light up signs.

Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, told that the deaths related to Drunk Driving were 27% in 2013. He added, “Many people believe that after a few drinks they’re still safe to drive. Even one drink can impair your judgment and reaction time, putting not only yourself, but everyone on the road, in danger”.

According to Friel, 38% of deaths that happened on Labor Day weekend in 2016 involved drunk drivers with a BAC of 0.08% or higher due to which 161 people died. It is not allowed to drive with a BAC level of 0.08% or higher in every state. He added that he wants to remind all motorists in Evesham and surrounding areas and that it’s not an advice, it’s the law. Motorists will see more patrols and cops on-duty as well as increased DUI checkpoints who will be messaging about this preventable offense.

Evesham Police Chief Christopher Chew said, “The number of people who are still drinking and driving is unacceptable. Yes, we want to increase awareness for the campaign, but we want the effects to be permanent.”

Hoch said that the main purpose of this campaign is to stop the number of DUI accidents and fatalities. He believes that highly visible enforcement is a great way to reduce the accidents and deaths linked to Drunk Driving. He further said, “The research is clear on the effect highly visible enforcement has on deterring impaired driving. Prevention and not the arrest is the goal of the campaign.”

Poedubicky told that the motorists should be aware of the risk that they will be taken into custody and the main purpose of the campaign is to convey that message. According to him, the campaign has influenced a large number of citizens all over the country not to drink and drive. “There is a zero tolerance message for this campaign. If drivers are caught operating their vehicle while impaired, they will be arrested.”

Designating a sober driver or getting back home with a sober friend is recommended by the police if anyone plans to drink and drive; getting a service like Uber is also an option to get back home safely. Besides this, a person can spend the night at the place where the party is hosted to remain safe and keep others safe.

To stay safe from those who choose to drink and drive, police advise to always buckle up regardless of the seat where a person is seated because it is one of the great ways to avoid severe injuries and death. If a person is under the influence of alcohol or any drug and is getting back home on foot, it is advised to take a cab or have a sober friend to drive them home instead.